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In case you’re wondering if homemade masks are really needed or appreciated, please read this funny piece.

Recently my friend Mary Heveron-Smith posted the following conversation she imagined having with the piece of fabric she was preparing for a homemade mask. Mary, like many others, is working tirelessly to help the cause, making masks for medical personnel. It clearly is a very, well, repetitive task and the mind must wander a bit…

(This is reprinted with her permission.)

“A Conversation” by Mary Heveron-Smith

Me about to cut into fabric…

FABRIC: Could I ask what you’re doing?

ME: I’m making a mask to give to a hospital.

FABRIC: You?

ME: Do I detect some sarcasm here?

FABRIC: Well, you’ve made your share of mistakes…

ME: (starting to cut again): Okay, wise guy…Bringing up history is not the way to have a good relationship.

FABRIC: Seriously, though. Is anyone going to take a homemade mask seriously? Didn’t one of the big hospitals say basically, ‘Home sewists, you can give your machines a rest. We’ve got this.’

ME: You listen to the news?

FABRIC: Hello! You put me and the other fabrics like 20 feet from the TV, and the volume…

ME: Okay, whatever. We’re in that demographic. In an ideal world, everyone who needed an N95-type medical mask would get one. And, with our own Hickey Freeman, gearing up to make medical protection equipment, we should be fine here.

FABRIC: What happened to cooking?

ME: Steve’s on it. Chicken soup yesterday to die for.

FABRIC: So, back to this MASK…

ME: Sew Creative (in Fairport) was asked the other day for 1700 masks for an area regional health network. The requests keep coming in. Medical professionals are people just like me, and they like safety nets.

FABRIC: Okay, I get that. But let’s be honest: when you make anything, your hands are all over the fabric.

ME: Fair question. First, I wash my hands a ton. Second, I’ll drop you off in a bin outside of either Sew Creative in Fairport or The Village Quilt Shoppe in Webster.

FABRIC: And?

ME: In either case, you’ll be laundered meticulously, either through a hospital service or under hospital guidelines. You’ll get a special medical filter placed inside the pocket, plus you’ll have elastic strung through you, unless I make some ties for you.

FABRIC: Will I be famous? Will I get used?

ME: My biggest hope? That this virus will die a fast death, and you’ll just be a cute historical artifact.

FABRIC: You really think I’m cute?

For more information, go to roccovid19masks.org

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I received the follow-up email from Mary:

I wrote this to address some of the skepticism I was hearing about the mask-making project at first. I read about the call for masks, watched the video done by the physician who started this, followed updates by Lisa Swisher of Sew Creative in Fairport, and donated some ready-to-sew mask-making kits to Monique Liberti of Webster Village Quilt Shoppe. I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen and heard.

I knew, from my own sewing projects over the years, something about the passion and professionalism of the sewists here. So I was not totally surprised when Lisa at Sew Creative reported that 1,600 masks were sewn and donated in four days. What blows me away even more is the way that these sewists, while adhering strictly to the standards set out for the masks, are using their creativity to exchange ideas and to get all the details just right. In a mask-makers FB group I started, we’re exchanging information on how to best make the ties that hold the masks on (because elastic is in short supply); which kind of wire to use for the part that must go over the nose; and how to build for comfort and safety.

Mary pointed out that Sew Creative and The Village Quilt Shoppe are not making any money on this project, and are contributing materials and a whole lot of time. We need to continue to support them by purchasing sewing materials for your personal projects.  Check out their websites for more information.

To find out more about this effort and hear from Dr. Nick, who spearheaded the project with his wife, visit roccovid19masks.org.

You can also listen to Dr. Nick himself discuss the project in this audio clip from “The Buzz” radio.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

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As you can imagine, the Red Cross is facing a severe shortage of blood donations right now. People are afraid to go out, or can’t go out, and are afraid that perhaps donating blood will expose them to a greater chance of getting infected.  Many of their drive locations, like high schools, colleges and businesses are closed, sending a lot of potential donors home. But the need remains critical.

Here’s an email I got from the Red Cross:

Even in this unprecedented crisis, patients and hospitals still depend on lifesaving blood to treat illnesses and injuries that can’t wait: patients who need surgery, mothers facing complications from childbirth, accident victims, patients fighting cancer and countless others.

We understand why people may be hesitant to attend a blood drive or give at their regular donation center. That’s why we want to reassure you that the Red Cross has implemented additional precautions to help ensure the safety of our donors and staff, including temperature checks prior to entering the blood drive, frequent disinfection and social distancing between donation beds where possible. Learn more about why donating blood is a safe process.

Healthy individuals are urged to schedule an appointment to donate blood in the days and weeks ahead.

There are three opportunities coming up locally nest week:

Town of Penfield, 1985 Baird Road
Monday, April 6, 2 to 7 p. m.

St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 813 Bay Rd
Tuesday, April 7,  1 to 6 p.m.
Sponsor Code: StMartinsLutheranChurchWebster

American Legion, 818 Ridge Road
Wednesday, April 8, 1 to 6 p.m.
Sponsor Code: WebsterCommunity

Please consider making an appointment. It’s a wonderful and easy way to help our community during this difficult time.  Click here to schedule your appointment.

Really, it’s safe.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Josh Nodine and his family, with some law enforcement friends, in front of their State St. home.

I was honored to participate in a very special birthday celebration yesterday.

Josh Nodine was supposed to be leaving yesterday — his 12th birthday — on a Dream Factory trip to Orlando. Thanks to the coronavirus, however, that trip had to be put on hold. So his mother Jamie tried to come up with something else that would make the day special for him.

That something was a parade. She explained her idea on her Facebook post here:

We were supposed to be leaving for Josh’s Dream Factory Trip on his birthday. His dream was to fly on an airplane and ride roller coasters at Disney World. Since that trip won’t be happening when we planned, we need something else to brighten Joshua’s birthday! Josh loves cars and trucks. He loves motorcycles and emergency vehicles. He loves buses and garbage trucks. He loves anything with an engine! He loves to wave and have people wave back. So we want to create a “parade” for him! Drive by our house and wave to Josh on his birthday! We will be in the driveway, rain or shine, watching and waving back.

The invitation was originally designed just for family and friends. But word started to spread, so much that the Sheriff’s Department was called in for traffic control, and both Webster and West Webster fire departments brought trucks.

A steady rainfall clearly did not deter anyone from coming out for the celebration. Josh, his mother Jamie, father Ben and brother Caleb were all set up by 12:30 under a tent in their driveway of their State Rd. home. The fire trucks started the parade a little before 1 p.m., lights blaring, and before it was all over (about a half hour later) more than 170 cars and trucks had passed, every one of them with people hanging out their windows, yelling their birthday wishes.

What was especially charming is that many of the families and friends who streamed by had made signs, attached balloons to their cars, blew bubbles and played kazoos. In one car, a boy was playing Happy Birthday on a saxophone. A few folks even tossed gifts out their windows (one lady assuring Jamie that “I bubble-wrapped it!”).

The delight on Josh’s face was heart-warming as he watched his friends, teachers and students from Klem South (his current school), Schlegel Rd. (his former school) and complete strangers stream by, every single one of them offering birthday wishes.

Josh often sits outside his home waving to passing cars, even on a normal day, so keep an eye out for him. And it’s never too late to wish him a happy birthday.

Here are several photos of the event, and make sure to check out my Webster on the Web Facebook page for a video of the entire parade!

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There was a lot of media representation there yesterday, so you can read more of this story here:

Democrat and Chronicle

Channel 8 WROC-TV

Have you seen them? Chalk drawings are showing up all over the place, a welcome distraction from the daily stresses that we’re all experiencing. I especially love the inspirational ones sent to me by Jen DiMarzio, who wrote,

“We joined our neighbors on Hightower Way in chalking our drive to lift the spirits on everyone walking, jogging, scooting, and stroller-ing around the block.”

I saw these drawings in my own village neighborhood, on Dunning Ave.

I’m also seeing more and more rainbows every day. Here are a few from my neighborhood:

And this one is cute — a portrait of Rebecca Orr and her coffee drawn by her granddaughter Arya.

Please keep sending me photos of your kids’ artwork!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Vanetta and Monique at The Village Quilt Shoppe are sending out daily updates for seamstresses (and seam…sters?)  interested in making masks for medical personnel. Today’s update will cheer anyone who wants to help but doesn’t want to (or can’t) leave the house to get materials or deliver masks.

The shop now  has a person who will pick and deliver masks and materials for anyone who needs that service. Just email them with your name, address — and number of kits you would like if that’s what you need — and the volunteer will drop things off or pick things up from your front porch, or anywhere else you specify.

The email is villagequiltshoppe@gmail.com.

They also remind us that “the kits from the RGH nurses need to come back to the store. WE do have other kits you can have to send to other locations if you prefer.”

They also received this letter from RGH which tells about other ways you can help:

* * *

We are grateful for the many offers of help. As you can imagine, it means the world to our health care teams to know that they have the support of our entire community. 

Here’s how you can help: 

Donate to our COVID-19 Support Fund – one of the best and quickest ways that you can help right now is to give to RRH COVID-19 Support Fund. This virus is difficult to predict, so donations will be used to meet our most pressing needs. 

Restaurant gift cards are a great idea – our hospital leadership teams can easily order meals before and after long shifts for our front line care providers to take home. 

If you are interested in donating food to RRH to support our clinical teams, please email Julie.hamil@rochesterregional.org. Please be aware we are unable to accept homemade food items. Food must be prepared in a commercial grade kitchen and packaged in individual servings 

Send encouraging messages to our patients – we suggest using social media. You can post videos and photos with #RRHspreadjoy, and we’ll share them with people who could use a smile. Or, if you’d prefer, send your messages to rrhfoundation@rochesterregional.org. 

As always, we appreciate messages of support for our health care teams. You can email messages to rrhfoundation@rochesterregional.org or post them on Rochester Regional’s social media channels. 

Donate face masks and other medical supplies. We are accepting masks that meet FDA/CDC guidelines as well as sewn masks. We aren’t particular about the color or pattern for sewn masks – we just appreciate your generosity. Additionally, we are accepting other medical supplies, like latex-free gloves and face shields. 

Donation drop off locations: Starting Friday, March 27th you’ll be able to drop off masks, gift cards and other supplies at three locations. Supplies will be distributed across Rochester Regional as needed to support our patients and care teams: 

RRH Administrative Offices Riedman Campus – North Entrance 100 Kings Highway South, Rochester Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am -2pm 

Newark Wayne Community Hospital Receiving Dock – North Side Entrance 1200 Driving Park Avenue, Newark Monday through Friday from 9am-2pm 

United Memorial Medical Center Jerome Center Loading Dock (off Wiard Street) 16 Bank Street, Batavia Monday through Friday from 10am-2pm 

Remember, you’re already helping our health care teams by staying home and by washing your hands frequently. Thank you for caring enough about your friends and neighbors to support their good health, and thank you for believing in us. You are now part of our team and together we can overcome this challenge.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Thank you to everyone so far who has sent me photos of the beautiful chalk drawings that are appearing around our neighborhoods. I am happy to share those emails with you now!

First, here’s Anna E. outside her north Penfield home, where she made this incredible creation on her driveway last Thursday night. “Before the rain washed it away,” her mom said.

Scott on Crest View Drive sent this picture of a 540-space hopscotch game, made by the kids in the neighborhood, which stretched the length of the whole street.

Little Michael chose to make his drawings on the deck, away from the street. Practicing proper social distancing!

This series of photos was sent to me by Jennifer Ashton, from a Facebook post by TeeJay Dill. Jennifer wrote,

“Not a kid, but a local artist and small business owner (she started and owns both White Tiger tattoo shops) trying to brighten up her neighborhood! TeeJay Dill is a gift to the Rochester community.”

TeeJay herself accompanied her Facebook post with,

“Froze myself trying to do this but felt like the neighborhood could use a little cheer. Supposed to rain (snow?) tomorrow so I will make a new one after this one washes away.”

Finally, this series of photos was sent to me by … well, frankly, I can’t find the original email/message, so I don’t remember, nor do I know what street they’re from!! Please email me again to remind me what great children created this delightful garden!

Do you have some children’s artwork you’d like to share? Let’s keep the smiles going! Email me!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

I saw this happy sight as I was heading home from Wegmans this afternoon (which was not as bad as I thought!) My neighbor Cindy, chalking her sidewalk along South Ave. with her children Connor and Celia.

Is anyone else taking advantage of this very sunny but cool day to get out and making art? Did your kids make rainbows to hang in the windows?

Please email me your photos of how your family is trying to brighten everyone’s day and I’ll post them in my blog!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Do you remember back to late 2012 and early 2013, when our community came together to support our West Webster firefighters — and all volunteer firefighters —  following the unspeakable tragedy of the Christmas Eve shooting?

We’re doing it again. The Coronavirus is turning us all into a global family, who must work together in a hundred different ways to weather the storm.

I’ve been hearing about many examples of this generosity in our local communities. This morning, for example, I read about a man who created a $150 tab at the Country Store for people to get food if they need it. Two people mentioned that DiVincenzo’s Bakery — which has a cash only policy — let two people walk out their doors with their orders when they only had a credit card, asking them just to return later to pay. Kristina, owner of the former Webster-based Mad Hatter Restaurant and Bakery, is making boxed meals for medical personnel. Local seamstresses are pooling their talents to make much-needed face masks for clinics and hospitals. People are bringing trash bags on their walks and helping clean up the environment.

And this is something I think we can all help with: I’ve seen a few references online about people sending letters to shut-ins at nursing homesget . I think this is a great idea. Nursing home residents often don’t even have the luxury of leaving their small rooms, especially if there’s an outbreak of illness in the facility. A personal letter is an easy way to help cheer them up and would really make their day.

I’m going to start doing this, but I would love to be able to direct my letters to specific people. Please email me if you would like your mother or father or grandmother or grandfather to receive a personal letter from me. (Make sure to check with the facility to see if they are accepting letters.) And if you would like, I can spread the word among my readers, so that our loved ones can get a LOT of letters.

If anyone is interested, I’ll start the ball rolling for my father-in-law:

Bruce Rosenberry
Elderwood Village at Williamsville
5271 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221

P.S., I heard from a few Nancy A. about another creative way people are getting together with friends, a virtual “happy hour,” which can be done on a phone or computer. One of my musician friends has also been trying to put together a virtual Irish music session. Doing that remotely, however, has encountered some challenges with regards to buffering and wifi.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

I’m loving all of the creative ideas to for socially-distant activities and entertainment that people are coming up with, to do with or without kids. If you’ve spent any time on Facebook recently, I’m sure you’ve seen some of them:

• put your Christmas lights back up. Then families can take car rides around town (or walks when the weather gets warmer) to see them
• Instead of Christmas lights, start your Easter decorating early and put up Easter eggs. Or decorate your mailboxes
• Chalk your walk — get some sidewalk chalk and craft an inspirational message on your walk or driveway. People are trying to get this going today and tomorrow, which may not work since it might rain. But we could do it anytime!
• How about an outdoor scavenger hunt? Google it and you’ll see lots of suggestions.
• An indoor scavenger hunt works, also.
• If you’re out and about taking a walk on the trails or on the street, consider taking along a trash bag, and help beautify the neighborhood. Remember the plastic gloves.

When the weather starts to warm up consistently, I’m thinking maybe we could organize a “socially distant afternoon tea,” maybe at Gazebo Park. We call a time, everyone brings a chair, and a cooler, and sets up at least 6 feet apart in the park. We could meet some new friends.

Got any other ideas? Anything really fun your family is doing? Email me!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.